1978 Almaden Pinot Noir

12/10/14-The brown bag wine at the McGuire’s home was poured into a thinner bottle and fooled all but Tim Curtis, who doesn’t like pinot noir and this wine did not taste very good to him.  

1984 Lytton Springs Zinfandel

12/4/14-The brown bag wine at the Thursday wine tasting was an awesome zinfandel that fooled most everyone. Guesses included cabernet, Bordeaux, syrah, and Borolo.  The wine was extremely fruity and enjoyable.  

1995 Hess Select Cabernet

11/30/14-Carl and Kathy celebrated our 19^th wedding anniversary with a 95 cabernet.

2008 Abreu Thorevilos Cabernet

11/27/14-.  Thanksgiving dinner was with our Son, Daughter-in law and Grandson in San Francisco.  We enjoyed an outstanding cabernet from Abreu.

1980 Buehler Cabernet

11/12/14-The brown bag wine tasted at the home of Tim and Jane Curtis was another well made aged cabernet that was delicious.

Varietal Tasting

11/6/14-Wine tasting at the Hennige’s to compare wines made from various grapes (d’Avola, Montepulciano, Carignano, Aglianico, Sangiovese, Malbec, Tempranello, Grenache, and Carignan).  The brown bag wine was a light style fruity pinot noir from Acacia that did not fool anyone.

1985 Laurel Glen cabernet

10/29/14-The brown bag wine tasted at the Rose/Laskowski home was an excellent aged cabernet.

1996 Spanish wine

10/24/14-Tasting at the El Dorado Hills store.  The brown bag wine didn’t fool Gary Rose who recently returned from Spain.

2004 Walter Hansel Pinot Noir

10/11/14-The wine tasted 8 years ago that made Tim Curtis a believer (sort of) in pinot noir.

1978 Margaux Bordeaux

10/9/14-Outstanding bordeaux in honor of the final Thursday tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest Wine Store.

4th of July Wines

7/6/14-Wines enjoyed by approximately 30 Wino’s during the 4 day 4^th of July weekend, celebrating the holidays and Carl Hennige’s 80^th birthday.

Ch. de Pez Bordeaux Vertical

7/5/14, Wines provided by Keith and Helen Faust, enjoyed on the 4^th of July.  2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

1934 Ware Port

7/4/14-The 80 year old port was still healthy and enjoyable, tasted with a terrific 1985 Ware; however, it did not compare to the 1934 Fonseca we enjoyed 10 years ago.

Caymus Vertical

7/4/14- Tasted at the Hennige’s Tahoe cabin.  1979, 1984, 1985, 1986 Sp. Select, 1987 Sp. Select.  A 1983 Caymus Zinfandel slipped into the vertical.

3 Wines with Robert Parker 100 point ratings.

7/2/14-Wines consumed by the Danby’s, Curtis’s, Faust’s and Hennige’s at the Fresh Catch in South Lake Tahoe.

-2009 Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint Julien

-2005 Guigal Cote Rotie 'la Mouline' Syrah

- 2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet

1980 Martin Ray Cabernet

6/11/14-An exceptional cabernet showing little ageing with intense berry fruit.

1978 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet

5/29/14-Absolute outstanding cabernet tasted at the Thursday wine tasting.  All thought it to be a a much younger zinfandel. Steve and Laura guessed cabernet correctly.

1984 Bogle Petite Sirah

5/22/14-Another excellent aged wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting.  Tim Curtis and Gary Rose nailed this one.

1980 Argonaut Zinfandel

5/15/14-A very pleasant zinfandel from a very old winery in Ione was sampled at the Thursday wine tasting.  The wine fooled most participants.

1979 Pichon Lalande half bottle.

5/14/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the home of Tim and Jane Curtis was a youthful Bordeaux.  Most thought it to be a cabernet, except Ann Vik.        

1978 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay

5/8/14-An over the hill wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting, fooled all but Time Curtis and Dave Vik.

1981 Hanzell Pinot Noir



5/1/14-The Thusday tasting was another example of a well made pinot noir from Hanzell.  The wine was poured into a zinfandel bottle and confused all but Ann Vik.

1982 Brenner Cellars

4/24/14-An unremarkable aged zinfandel sampled at the Thursday wine tasting.

1986 Hanzell Pinot Noir

4/9/14-The brown bag wine sampled at the Ross and Donna McGuire home was a well made, outstanding pinot noir, greatly enjoyed by all.

Older Wines

3/6/14 to 4/17/14-Wines sampled at the Folsom Lakeforest Wine Store:

1979 Argonaut Barbera

1979 Gran Cru Cabernet

1978 Mirrasou Zinfandel

1969 Charles Krug Cabernet

1976 Joh.Jos Prun Riesling

1979 Grand Cru’ Vineyards Cabernet

3/20/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting was a delicious 1979 cabernet.  Grapes were grown in Clarksburg.  The wine was surprisingly youthful and quite fruity.  A second wine provided by Pete was a 1982 red wine from Spain.

1980 Nevada City Cellars Cabernet

3/13/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting was a 1980 Nevada City Cellars Cabernet that was enjoyed (and guessed) by all.  Simple but very youthful and fruity. 

Long Johannisberg Reisling

3/6/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting was a Long Late Harvest Johannisberg Riesling, residual sugar 6.5%.  Unusual “apricot” color but the wine did not fool many.  Gary Rose got into trouble with Laura for knowing Miss Long’s first name (Zelma).  Innocent until proven guilty???

Dinner at Scott's

3/1/14-Carl, Kathy, Laura, Gary, Ann and Dave gathered at Scott’s Restaurant for cocktails and dinner.  The wines included an Abreu cabernet and pinot noir’s from Folley and Williams Selyem.  A good time was had by all!

1982 Monticello Corley Cabernet

2/27/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a lovely, youthful, fruity cabernet.  The wine fooled few, including Gary and Laura.

1977 Torres Gran Sangre

2/20/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was an incredibly youthful Spanish Rhone blend-60% Garnacha Tinta and 25% Cariñena (Grenache and Carignan).  Raj nailed this one.

1984 Robert Keenan Cabernet

2/13/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a youthful cabernet that didn’t fool many.  Very fruity blackberry with a nutty component.

1979 Raymond Chardonnay

2/12/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Knitters at the Dave & Ann Vik home was a 1979 Raymond Chardonnay, paired with a delicious dinner of Portobello Mushroom caps with grilled chicken tenders and cheese Knitter’s salad.

Ch. Pegau Mini-Horizontal Tasting

2/8/14-The Curtis’s and Hennige’s met at the home of Keith and Helen Faust to sample a small horizontal of Ch. Pegau Rhone wines (2000, 2004 and 2009).  The wines were paired with a fabulous dinner consisting of Apricot-Glazed Pork Roast, Boursin Creamed Spinach, scalloped potatoes and White Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake.

1984 Chatom Merlot

2/6/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was 1984 Merlot that had lost original fruit.  Raj finally got his Merlot guess correct, as did Jane and Laura.

NV Bogle Petite Sirah

1/30/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a drinkable 1979 Petite Sirah that was a bit over the hill.  Tim Curtis nailed this one.

1978 Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel

1/23/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a very enjoyable and fruity aged zinfandel.  Most thought it to be a much younger wine, in the 80’s or even 90’s.  Flavors of plum and fig predominated.

1971 Pedroncelli Zinfandel

1/16/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a 43 year old zinfandel that was still alive.  The wine did not fool anyone with all participants guessing zinfandel; however, most thought it to be much younger.

1984 Jekel Cabernet

1/9/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a fruity and youthful cabernet.  Most participants thought it to be a cab or merlot, and Laura and Jane detected a vege component which was very prevalent in the older Jekel cabernets.

1974 Ch. La Grave Bordeaux

1/8/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Knitters at the Carl and Kathy Hennige home was an enjoyable older Bordeaux.  The wine was poured into a Rhone wine bottle which provided some confusion for the participants.

1985 Stanford-Haywood Cabernet

1/2/14- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a wine packaged by Haywood Winery for the Stanford alumni wine club.  Most participants thought it to be a merlot.  The wine was quite youthful, fruity and enjoyable.

1979 Smothers LH Gewurtztraminer

12/26/13- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a 1979 late harvest gewürztraminer from Tom Smothers Winery.  Gary Rose nailed this one, guessing a late 70’s gewurtz from Fetzer Winery (close).  The wine had turned from clear to a deep yellow but retained the sweet fruit.  Very enjoyable.

1980 Edmeades Pinot Noir

12/19/13- The brown bag wine sampled at the Thursday wine tasting at the Folsom Lakeforest wine store was a 1980 pinot noir that was surprisingly youthful and fruity.